COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) - Chelsea Clinton and Vernon Jordan, a longtime adviser to President Bill Clinton, quietly attended two African-American church services in South Carolina on Sunday, six days before the state's Democratic primary.

The appearances are part of the Hillary Clinton campaign's outreach toward the state's black voters, who are expected to be a crucial constituency in the primary vote. Barack Obama holds an edge over Clinton among African-Americans according to recent polls.

Chelsea Clinton attended the 11 a.m. service at Bible Way church in Columbia, whose pastor, state senator Darrell Jackson, is a member of Hillary Clinton's South Carolina steering committee.

Jordan and his wife Ann attended services at Brookland Baptist Church in West Columbia.

Hillary Clinton will make her first post-Nevada appearance in South Carolina tomorrow morning in Columbia, while Obama will hold a rally at the Columbia Convention Center tonight.

UPDATE: The Obama campaign points out that Michelle Obama also attended 11 a.m. worship services at Bible Way Church on Sunday.

soundoff(264 Responses)

So, do they go to church on a regular basis where there is a mostly african-american congregation? No? Hm, dumb, way dumb!

If they did, this might have credibility, since they don't it's plastic, you know, fake.

Where is her regard for black people when she's not running for election, oh, did I say that out loud, please forgive me, we now return you to the crap the media normally feeds you.

January 20, 2008 01:59 pm at 1:59 pm |

nino DiFerrante

McCain: apart his 72 years, could we have a prognosis on his "melanoma"?

January 20, 2008 02:02 pm at 2:02 pm |

anna

If Hillary gets this through tactics like this, I am voting for McCain.

January 20, 2008 02:03 pm at 2:03 pm |

favor

German/Danish/british descendants in South-Africa call themselves AFRICAANS-to distinguish themselves from the native african population and by the way they don't make a big deal out of their so called adopted homeland-like here in the USA-African-Americans-l guess we should have a term like European-Americans. And in South Africa or the African continent as a whole, Obama would be recognized as one from the "caste system," that is his biracial lineage would be acknowleged not like the term "black candidate,"!!!!!!!!!!!-l agree with you from Canada-at least, it is good to get an international viewpoint-well you are right William***

January 20, 2008 02:05 pm at 2:05 pm |

Marilyn Bryan, Taylor, AR

Hillary 08

January 20, 2008 02:06 pm at 2:06 pm |

Xlotus

Just give Hillary a chance. Just give women a chance. Just another guy is Obama.

Women account for more than half of the US population. Why can't we have a woman represent us?

And, Hillary is a very capable woman. She has worked hard to get where she is now. What a self-made woman!

Let's support Hillary because in doing so, we acknowledge that women have so much to contribute outside of her home.

January 20, 2008 02:06 pm at 2:06 pm |

case

I Hillary does not continue surrogate based attacks on Obama, (I won't hold my breath). Has anyone stopped to think what it would look like if Obama answered in kind. What would the media say if he lined up a dozen white women on stage next to him to launch fiery attacks on Hillary.......It would look absurd.....the same should be said of the Clinton's actions.

January 20, 2008 02:07 pm at 2:07 pm |

Lauren

Why is Michelle Obama only deserving of a footnote in this story? And where is the story about Obama's incredible speech at Dr. King's church this morning? Well, if anyone is interested since you can't get this story on CNN, the full text of the speech is on Obama's website under the blog entitled "The Great Need of the Hour"... it's currently the first link on the main page.

January 20, 2008 02:07 pm at 2:07 pm |

Zara

Hate to break it to you Tyler but Obama is considered the one folks would rather have a beer with. The President should be someone that you trust to lead the country through good and bad times. I don't drink beer so I wouldn't want to have a beer with either. I met Hillary and she is great one on one, it isn't what you see in the press or hear about. She was nice, down to earth and just as real as Obama seems to come across. However I would love to sit down and talk to obama as well. He is just a bit busy right now. Obama is too much of a wild card for a time as serious as this. In 2000 no-one thought we could be where we are today. Well we are and we need a pragmatic leader to deal with it. Don't blame Hillary for her last name. She is her own person and will make her decions just like Obama. If you are anti Clinton then don't support Obama because he has Clinton advisors as well. If he didn't think highly of them he wouldn't be getting advise from people who worked in the Clinton administration. Have a great day and God Bless America!

January 20, 2008 02:08 pm at 2:08 pm |

Sam

Whatever happened to separation of Church and State? Why are Clinton and Obama giving political speeches from pulpits all over the place? These churches should NOT be tax-exempt.

January 20, 2008 02:08 pm at 2:08 pm |

TYSPOCK , COLUMBIA, MD

I am ok with hope – just as long as we know that's what it is – but if we start thinking that we can stay at home from work and “hope” will get the job done than we have a problem, if we start thinking that “hope” we correct this economy than we have a problem, if we start thinking that “hope” will stabilize the middle east than we have a problem, if we start thinking that “hope” will pay the mortgage and the rest of the bills than we have a problem. Now when you look past the "record" of “hope” what else do you have ? “present” will not do the job or anything else for that matter.
I will vote for experience and that vote will be for Hillary, which is the best way to make “hope” becomes a “real” possibility!

I am ok with hope – just as long as we know that's what it is – but if we start thinking that we can stay at home from work and “hope” will get the job done than we have a problem, if we start thinking that “hope” will correct this economy than we have a problem, if we start thinking that “hope” will stabilize the middle east than we have a problem, if we start thinking that “hope” will pay the mortgage and the rest of the bills than we have a problem. Now when you look past the "record" of “hope” what else do you have ? “present” will not do the job or anything else for that matter.
I will vote for experience and that vote will be for Hillary, which is the best way to make “hope” becomes a “real” possibility!

January 20, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |

tariq

God bless hillary a billion fold,GOD bless American a zillio fold.she is who america and thenwrld needs

January 20, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |

Win James

If you want to really know if race or gender are factors in the race between Hilary and Barack ask yourself the following questions: If the only thing about Hilary that changed were she was no longer a woman, would you vote for her to be President? If Barack was the same man you have listened to for the past year but he changed to a blue haired blond, would Hilary as she is right now pose any meaningful threat to his candidacy for President of the United States?

If your answers to both questions are no, then it is reasonable to conclude that you will vote your conscience on voting day!

January 20, 2008 02:16 pm at 2:16 pm |

Truth

I'm so exhausted with the Clintons and their bogus interest in the African American community. By the way, Hillary claims to be a big girl, is she running for president or BIll? Bill needs to chill in his rocking chair.

January 20, 2008 02:17 pm at 2:17 pm |

Joseph, VA

The notion that the Clintons do not care about nor support the African American community in America is absurd. They have championed the cause of civil rights, women's rights, and human rights for decades. This campaign should not be about race or gender, but about experience and the ideas to bring about real change. All any voter need do is look at Hillary's record to see that she is the best candidate to move America in the right direction.

Hillary '08!!

January 20, 2008 02:17 pm at 2:17 pm |

kobe

just to make it very clear to the people of sc,the clintons are asking for you to give them power so they can do for you as always!!why don't you take the power and do for yourself for a change?!think about it people!!!do for yourself!!

January 20, 2008 02:18 pm at 2:18 pm |

Angie

Hilary may be buddies w/the who's who of the Blacks, Hispanics or whomever, but the fact still remains that she voted pro war, is pro war and will continue to be pro war. Everyone is forgetting about the war and focusing on the economy. As long as we are at war the economy will be disabled. And as anyone can see she will do anything to get elected just like Bush. I do not believe a thing that comes out of her mouth. She reminds me of George Bush. Don't trust her. Angie in Washington

January 20, 2008 02:19 pm at 2:19 pm |

Hyvron Jean

Hillary will do anything to win.

I will not vote if Hillary win this nomination

January 20, 2008 02:21 pm at 2:21 pm |

Jen Cedar Falls, IA

This just makes my stomach flip.
Chelsea going to this church as a pawn in her mothers pandering shenanigans.
Ewww!

January 20, 2008 02:23 pm at 2:23 pm |

The Big Picture

Let's all work together to defeat the repubs. It goes beyond getting upset that our man or woman didn't win the nominee. There is a possibility that there will be 2 openings on the Supreme Court . Imagine what the supreme court would look like if a repub were to win. McCain is a decent man (except his Iraq war stance), but should we give him our vote because we are mad that Hillary is the nominee or Obama is the nominee? Come on people, we have to pull together. This is not American Idol.

January 20, 2008 02:24 pm at 2:24 pm |

john jacob,chicago,illinois

SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON IS GOING TO MAKE A GREAT PRESIDENT.

January 20, 2008 02:24 pm at 2:24 pm |

Karen P

Hillary's suck-up antics make me just SICK! She won't even let Chelsea talk to kid reporters then sends her to church in South Carolina??? I just had to turn OFF the CNN broadcast of Hillary being backed by a church in Harlem...and how unbelievable it was. She just stood there blank-faced shaking her head while the pastor READS pages and pages and pages of how great Hillary is and her 30+ years of service to the community, etc. It sounded like HIllary wrote the speech for sure.

I HOPE Obama wins by a landslide! He will if the African American community has brains to think for themselves instead of the Clinton machine doing it for them and CONSTANTLY reminding the people of "favors", whatever that was and now it is Clinton's turn to GET the favors. Give me a break.

I am ashamed of the split African American community to preferring "friendship" over someone who is about to make Martin Luther King's Dream come true and show pride in what Obama has accomplished. All the blood and grief since the 50s and 60s and now the chance to have unity only to let it slip on by. Good grief...even whites vote Obama...he has the country pulling TOGETHER but 1/2 the U.S. population hates Hillary!